Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 26
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
सर्जाश्वकर्णौ वीरेन्द्रौ इन्द्रद्रुः ककुभो ऽर्जुनः इङ्गुदी तापसतरुर्मोचा शाल्मलिरेव च
sarjāśvakarṇau vīrendrau indradruḥ kakubho 'rjunaḥ iṅgudī tāpasatarurmocā śālmalireva ca
The Agni Purāṇa enumerates these trees: Sarja and Aśvakarṇa; Vīrendra; Indradru; Kakubha; Arjuna; Iṅgudī; Tāpasataru, the ascetics’ tree; Mocā; and Śālmali as well.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Serves as a medicinal-botany catalogue for recognizing useful trees in forest collection, timber, and drug sourcing (bark, resin, flowers, fibers).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vanaspati-nighaṇṭu: Tree enumeration (Sarja to Śālmali)","lookup_keywords":["Sarja","Aśvakarṇa","Arjuna Kakubha","Iṅgudī","Śālmali Mocā"],"quick_summary":"A compact register of important trees used in medicine and allied practices; supports field identification and systematic collection."}
Concept: Loka-saṅgraha through cataloguing nature: ordered knowledge of vanaspati enables right use without waste.
Application: Sustainable collection: identify species correctly and harvest appropriate parts to preserve groves.
Khanda Section: Vṛkṣa-āyurveda / Vanaspati-nighaṇṭu (Medicinal Botany and Plant Catalogues)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A forest panorama with labeled trees—Sarja, Aśvakarṇa, Arjuna, Iṅgudī, Śālmali—while a sage-collector notes them on a palm-leaf list.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized forest with distinct tree silhouettes, sage with palm-leaf manuscript, labels near trees (Sarja, Aśvakarṇa, Arjuna, Iṅgudī, Śālmali), earthy palette, rhythmic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sacred grove scene with gold accents on leaves and blossoms, central sage and attendants collecting bark/resin, ornate border, labeled trees","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic botanical grove with careful leaf/bark textures, teacher pointing to each tree name, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed botanical garden-like forest, each tree rendered naturalistically with calligraphic labels, sage writing, soft landscape depth"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ककुभो ऽर्जुनः = ककुभः + अर्जुनः; शाल्मलिरेव = शाल्मलिः + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Vṛkṣa-āyurveda / vanaspati lists)
FAQs
This verse imparts vṛkṣa-nāma-jñāna (technical plant nomenclature): a structured enumeration of specific trees used in medicinal, ritual, and material contexts within Vṛkṣa-āyurveda-style cataloguing.
By preserving standardized lists of flora (including medically important trees like Arjuna and Iṅgudī), the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compact reference work—bridging purāṇic teaching with practical domains such as materia medica, forestry knowledge, and ritual-resource identification.
Knowing and honoring sacred and useful trees supports dhārmic living—enabling proper selection for worship materials, charity, and healing—thereby aligning everyday practice with purity, merit (puṇya), and non-harm through informed use of natural resources.